Hello and welcome to the history of the Germans, Episode 37, The Two Grooms.

This week the Wheel of Fortune will turn again, tumbling our anti-hero Henry IV down from

the heights he had so recently scaled. We will see him sink to the point of utter

despair, and all that, because a 43-year-old woman, marries an 18-year-old. Before we start,

just a reminder, the history of the Germans podcast is advertising free, thanks to the generous

support from patrons. And you can become a patron too and enjoy

exclusive bonus episodes and other privileges from the price of a latte per month.

All you have to do is sign up at patreon.com slash history of the Germans or on my website,

history of the Germans.com. You find all the links in the show notes, and thanks a lot to Stephen

and Jay who have already signed up. We should probably start with a quick recap where we are in the

year 1090. Things aren't looking too bad for Henry IV. He has a modicum of control over most

of Germany. The 17-year-long war with the Saxons had been brought to an end,

largely by giving them what they wanted, but peace is peace. In Italy, his bishops were, by

large, in charge of the northern part of the country, and his anti-pope Clement III was on and off

in control of Rome. As for his enemies, there were three main centres.

In Swabia, the deposed dukes of Bavaria and Carinthia,

Welf the 4th and Battle of Tsehring and kept on fighting.

Henry had entered peace negotiations with both,

but their demands were unacceptable.

They required the anti-Pope Clement III to be removed, and they themselves reinstated

as dukes.

The second key enemy was the great Countess Matilda of Tuscany, one of, if not the most formidable

...